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Wednesday, 5 November 2014

After an awesome weekend on board the world’s first smart ship, Quantum of the Seas, we thought it would only be fair to share our experience and thoughts!

Let’s start with all things ‘smart’…

Smart Check-inAs we arrived at the terminal we were promptly greeted by a member of staff who labelled and took our suitcases away to be delivered to our stateroom. Upon entering the terminal building we were directed towards one of several members of staff equipped with a tablet each, our passports were scanned, (which brought up our details and photograph that we had previously registered through online check-in) our boarding pass was stamped (which we previously printed after online check-in) and we were able to proceed straight through to security & then into the waiting lounge and shortly after onto the ship! As promised, there were no lines to wait in, no forms to fill out and nor was there a check-in counter. This new procedure also meant that you would embark the ship using your printed boarding pass and your room key/SetSail pass is found outside of your stateroom in an envelope - different to past cruises whereby you are handed your SetSail pass at the terminal during check-in – but it worked & saved time.

Sidewalk to ship in 10 minutes? Yes, if you have completed your online check-in correctly & everything is running smoothly at the terminal, you’ll leave your luggage upon arriving at the terminal and be on-board in 10 minutes.

Smart ConciergeAlong with our SetSail passes we were provided with RFID Wowbands – a wristband which acts as a room key and is also used to charge drinks and other purchases to your onboard account. It was very convenient, you didn’t have to get your card out each and every time you purchased a drink or when you nipped back to your stateroom, you simply present your wrist to the pay point or to your stateroom door. And although not the most stylish accessory, the majority of passengers were wearing them!

We found the online Cruise Planner and Royal iQ smart phone app very convenient; it works well. We booked ourselves into a show before we embarked on our cruise using Royal Caribbean’s online Cruise Planner and these reservations showed up within the Royal IQ smart phone app and on the television in our stateroom! If you connect to the Wi-Fi onboard you can use the Royal IQ smart phone app during your cruise to make reservations and check your schedule – we found this very useful! And if you do not have the smart phone app there are IPads available at guest services where you can make reservations for dinner, book spa appointments, book shore excursion and much more!

Smart ExperiencesThe day we boarded the ship we were keen to explore and check out all the innovations onboard! We headed straight up to top deck, firstly to order a strawberry daiquiri from Sky Bar and secondly, to watch the North Star as it rose 300ft above the ocean!

Phil, our MD, was fortunate enough to experience the North Star & here’s what he has to say…

“Before I boarded Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, I was extremely sceptical about the North Star and my honest belief was that this was a ‘gimmick’.

How wrong can one be? It was the best part of the whole ship experience by far and this is without a shadow of doubt, the ‘Have to do experience’ whilst on holiday. If you do nothing else – do this!

You will see from my pictures that the sun was shining which makes all the difference. When the sun went behind the clouds it was good but not as awesome as when the sun was out and you could see the sea shimmering and the ship in all her splendour.

I guess at night, you will just see the ship lit up which will make for a great photo shot, but the day time works for me and just imagine being up in the pod overlooking the Cote D’Azur or in the volcanic bay of Santorini – WOW!”

From the North Star we headed towards the giant pink polar bear which stands on Deck 15 & of course we took the opportunity to have a photo taken!

We then continued into SeaPlex, a brilliant multi-functional area that hosts indoor activities such as roller discos, bumper cars and even a circus school. At this particular moment the bumper cars were in action and who can say no to a ride on the bumper cars? It was great fun and it was great to see a variety of age groups joining in!

After a very bumpy ride we left SeaPlex and continued towards the aft of the ship where we found both the Flow Rider and the Ripcord by IFly (sky diving simulator). Both are fantastic experiences & although we did not try out the Flow Rider onboard Quantum of the Seas, a few of us have tried it out on other Royal Caribbean ships and it is great fun – but difficult to keep your balance, so expect to fall!

I was fortunate enough to experience the sky diving simulator and believe me, it is awesome! Before you enter the wind tunnel you are shown a video that explains your body position and which hand signals to look out for to reposition your arms, legs and chin. After the safety brief you are suited and booted in overalls, trainers, goggles, ear plugs and a helmet and taken up to the wind tunnel with your instructor. A few of the instructors gave us an impressive demonstration before inviting us one at a time into the wind tunnel to experience it for ourselves. It is slightly nerve-racking as you are called towards the wind tunnel for your turn, but the instructors are great & help you to get into the correct position. The feeling as you ‘float’ in the wind tunnel is exhilarating & although you know that you are not falling 15000+ feet from a plane the feeling of the wind in your face is not too dissimilar. Oh and the fact that you can see the ocean surrounding ads to the experience!

After a quick adrenaline rush it was time for another drink – where else to head than the Bionic Bar, a bar that consists of two robotic bar tenders to prepare and serve your drink and an iPad to order! We were unable to order a cocktail at this particular time & if I’m honest it was more of a ‘gimmick’ – we did see it break down a few times! But when we did see it in use, it was rather impressive. The concept of being served your drink by a robot is exciting - The robots are set up with great precision in order to serve you the correct mix of spirits and sodas and then pour them into a cup ready to serve. We did happen to see one of the robotic bar tenders drop a cup (fortunately it was empty) but it was interesting to see that it noticed the accident and replaced the cup with another.

My personal thoughts? I prefer to be served by a human bartender – I like the personal service of a human bartender!

The first evening we were booked into the show at Two70. I have to say Two70 is an impressive venue, by day a relaxing ‘café’ and by night an amazing innovative show set. The 270 degree panoramic view by day transforms into a ‘Vistarama’ by night. This particular show was called Star Water. The production was amazing – the stage is brilliant, it moves up and down in various places, people literally appear on the stage from nowhere and there are areas in the roof for dancers to drop down. But most impressive was the robotic screens and the beautiful 270 degree Vistarama projectable background – this brought the show to life! One thing I will say is the layout of the room is ‘different’ to say the least – so get there early and find a good seat – I highly recommend the seats in the middle at the front!

Now onto the food…

As you would expect, the food was delicious! Unfortunately we were unable to experience all 18 dining venues as we were onboard for just a short 2 nights. The day we embarked we stopped for lunch in Johnny Rockets – this isn’t the first time I have eaten at Johnny Rockets, but I couldn’t resist their delicious all-beef hot dog and thick chocolate milkshake!

The first evening we were booked into The Grande Restaurant, a beautiful and elegant restaurant where every night is a formal night – so dress to impress if you are dining in The Grande! The food was superb. What do we recommend? The Beef Carpaccio to start and the Mediterranean Rack of Lamb for main (until they change the menu of course)! We couldn't choose between the desserts so we ordered all five (between the four of us) & what a brilliant decision this was!

We chose to dine in Silk on the second evening, and what an experience this was – a complete change from The Grande! The menu is influenced by the tastes of China, India, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam – full of pan-Asian flavours! We were spoiled for choice and so the waiter recommended we had a selection of the starters between the 6 of us; my favourite? The Vietnamese Tacos for sure! For main I had the Hibachi Steak – the meat was delicious, and the Wasabi mashed potato that is served with it is to die for!

A room with a view?

The cabins are lovely, as you would expect… great thought
has been given to the design of the new cabins on Quantum of the Seas,
maximising space and ensuring comfort. We were fortunate enough to be staying
in balcony cabins (the D4 category) and there’s plenty of space, even with the
furniture, on the balcony. The beds are super comfy, and there’s handy plugs
next to the bed (something that is often missing on other ships). A very useful
addition to the power options in the cabins are the double USB ports, meaning
you only need to take your devices’ cables rather than the plugs themselves! We
also noticed that we had actual coat hangers… yes real ones! And whilst we’re
on the subject of storage there’s tonnes of it! There’s even baskets for shoes
on the back of the wardrobe door!

Of course for those wishing to spend more time out of the
cabin than in it there are new options when it comes to inside and oceanviews
as well. Inside cabins now give you the choice to bring the outside inside,
with the introduction of virtual balconies. This is essentially a floor to
ceiling plasma screen that shows exactly what you would be able to see outside
if your cabin had a balcony! It’s a great idea, and makes the cabins feel more
spacious. Oceanviews have a really good sized windows, but we have to say
it’s worth the upgrade to the F grade Superior Oceanview. The difference in
space between a standard and superior oceanview is noticeable, but more so than
that… due to the position of the cabins, they feature an enormous round window
that offers incredible views. But if you fancy one of these you have to be
quick as there’s only 8 of them on board!

As this is Royal Caribbean there obviously has to be a WOW
factor, and this is produced by the Loft Suites (I have to admit that on
entering the first loft suite the first word out of my mouth was “wow”!). These
suites really are something… from the gorgeous furniture (including an
Eames-style chair) to the unique art in each suite, and the absolutely
incredible views from your double height balcony doors. Upstairs the beds look
out over the mezzanine and out to sea, and for now we’ll just have to imagine
waking up to that view… And for those that might be worries about missing the
TV that’s downstairs, don’t worry… at the flick of a switch your TV upstairs
will appear from the ceiling! The loft suites are everything you’d want them to
be when paying a premium for a suite… they’re plush, decadent, uber-comfy, and
offer you something that we realised we miss when we cruise… going upstairs to
bed!

Our overall thoughts of Quantum of the Seas…

The ship is awesome, the décor is classy and sophisticated and there is a good balance of adult entertainment and children’s activities – great for all the family!

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

The following information has been provided by Holland America Line.Earlier this week Holland America Line announced the name for its new Pinnacle Class Ship which is scheduled for delivery February 2016; ms Konningsdam. While the name is in honor of Holland America Line's rich heritage and deep roots in the Netherlands, it also reflects a new era with a bold name that is an original in Holland America Lines 141-year history.

Since 1883 every Holland America passenger vessel has borne the “dam” suffix, and ms Koningsdam carries on that tradition. The word koning means “king” in Dutch, and the name celebrates the majestic new ship. The name also pays honor to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in over a century.“In choosing the name Koningsdam, we are honoring our rich Dutch heritage while reflecting that we’re entering a new era as a company,” said Stein Kruse, chief executive officer of the Holland America Group. “This new Pinnacle Class ship will be our largest, most contemporary vessel, and it was only fitting to give it a name that embodies great achievement for the future, while embracing timeless tradition.”

New design for a new class of ship

When it debuts in February 2016, ms
Koningsdam will be a new type of ship for Holland America Line. At 99,500
gross tons and carrying 2,650 guests and 1,025 crew members, the vessel is the
largest ever built for the company. The increased size provides more
opportunities to add new public spaces and venues, and several innovative
features will debut on ms Koningsdam. Familiar spaces and amenities
currently featured across the Holland America Line fleet will also be found on
the new ship.

To bring a fresh vision to ms
Koningsdam, Holland America Line tapped Adam D. Tihany, one of the world’s
pre-eminent hospitality designers. Tihany joins distinguished maritime designer
and architect Bjorn Storbraaten who worked with Holland America Line on ms
Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Eurodam. The two firms will create a modern
and contemporary ambiance while incorporating Holland America Line’s classic hallmarks.

Monday, 15 September 2014

MSC
Cruises has begun their multimillion euro programme to stretch all four of their
Lirica Class ships.

Work
began on 31st August to stretch MSC Armonia, the first of the four
ships to undergo the refit. The vessel was cut in two and separated early this
month, at the Fincantieri shipyard, ready for the pre-fabricated section to be
inserted and welded.

The
80ft section, which was welded into place on 10th September, will not only provide
193 new cabins, but also a new waterpark area for the children, an enhanced
boutique and refitted restaurants.

The
refit will take approximately 9 weeks from start to finish, with a completion
date of 17th November 2014. Upon completion MSC Armonia will carry
480 additional passengers and increase the ship’s weight by an estimated 5000
tonnes.

The
three remaining ships are scheduled for their refit
on the following dates:

Friday, 5 September 2014

The following information has been provided by Seabourn.REVISED DRESS GUIDELINES
In general, the world is becoming less formal in terms of the attire people are expected to wear in a given situation. At the same time, Seabourn guests expect to encounter a level of elegance which is beyond that they would normally experience at home. In order to balance these two sets of expectations, the following guidelines have been implemented.

Daytime wear
During the day we request that swimwear is not worn in the interior public rooms. Further, brief shorts (such as jogging shorts and work-out apparel) are not considered appropriate attire in dining venues and lounges. (Bermuda, or longer shorts and jeans are acceptable).

Evening wear
In the evening (after 6pm) there are two different dress codes:

1. Elegant CasualMen: slacks with a collared dress shirt or sweater; Jacket optional
Ladies: slacks / skirt, blouse, pant suit or dress
This is the dress standard for all dining venues
Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day
Jeans are not appropriate in the Restaurant after 6pm

2. Formal
In the Restaurant:
Men: Tuxedo, suit or slacks and jacket required
Ladies: evening gown or other formal apparel
Dress in other dining venues is Elegant Casual
Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day
Jeans are not appropriate in any public venues after 6pm

The breakdown per cruise for the different dress codes is as follows:
Up to 13 day cruise – 1 Formal night
14-20 day cruise – 2 formal nights
21 or more day cruise – 3 formal nights

Christmas & New Year Cruises will have two formal nights per week or four for the two-week cruise, with Dress Code on December 25 and December 31 Formal.

Formal Evenings in The Restaurant
A sign with the evening dress code will be posted in The Restaurant, the only area where the dress code will be strictly enforced on formal nights. On Formal nights, a selection of jackets will be available to be offered to gentlemen who arrive without one. Alternatively they may dine in their suites, or in the Veranda Café/Colonnade/R2/Patio/Sky Grill when open.

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Royal Caribbean International have announced that they plan to sell Celebrity Century, the 19-year-old, 1,814 passenger ship, to Ctrip, a Chinese travel company.

Royal Caribbean International and Ctrip have entered into a joint venture, both managing the operations of Celebrity Century. However the details of this agreement have not yet been announced.Ctrip International, Ltd is one of China's leading travel agencies, with interests in accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and corporate travel mamangement. they have sent more than 120,000 passengers on cruises and makeup more than 10% of the Chinese cruise market.Celebrity Century will complete its scheduled sailings through to March 22, 2015 itinerary plus scheduled farewell cruises, including one with President and CEO Michael Bayley before leaving Celebrity Cruises fleet in April. It has also been rumoured that the vessel will receive a full renovation ensuring a great cruise experience for the Chinese market.

Friday, 29 August 2014

Celebrity Cruises has announced that Celebrity Eclipse will undergo a revamp April 2015 just in time for her six consecutive summer seasons from Southampton! The Solstice Class ship will arrive in the UK, May 2015, ready for the summer season with some luxurious new features!

Cellar Masters is becoming Gastrobar A new craft beer and comfort food venue

• The new venue will offer food and beer enthusiasts a choice of over 40 handcrafted
boutique beers in addition to Celebrity Cruises' varied collection of wines and classy
cocktails, all of which are perfectly paired with a menu of elevated bar-fare
creationsAmerican style Casino becomes a bit more British•
Guests will be able to enjoy more British style slot machines• The bar will receive an upgrade with a reconfigured layout including a new seating area and
larger TVs for viewing sporting events• Better odds will be offered through
more European-style rouletteSay Goodbye to the Pool Kiosk & hello to ‘Slush’ • The current sea and sun
kiosk will be reinvented as a frozen drinks venue called ‘Slush’ featuring
flavour-rich and fresh frozen cocktails• The venue will be modern, bright and
cheerful to entice passing guests• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails will be served with
perfectly balanced ingredients ranging from fresh pressed lemon juice to Persian
limeThe Studio is becoming a brand new fine art photography studio• The Studio will provide guests with a brand new, unique
and Modern LuxurySM venue that will take the portraiture experience to a whole
new level• The Studio will specialise in ‘fine art photography’• The Hot Glass ShowSM will
remain, and The Studio will replace the Glass Exhibit

Britannia, (P&O Cruises newest ship, scheduled for delivery February 2015), is not just the largest ship ever to be built for the British market - She also has the glamour and sophistication of a five-star hotel, complete with five-star facilities and first-class amenities.

To relax and unwind, guests can visit Britannia's signature Oasis Spa; the largest and most luxurious spa amongst the P&O Cruises fleet, complete with a Spa Shop! The first Spa Shop to feature on a P&O Cruises ship will stock skin and haircare products by Elemis, La Therapie, Phyto, Bliss and Sebastian.The Oasis Spa will also be equipped with two other new features designed to appeal to couples and groups, the Oasis Villa and a new 'blowout menu'.

The Oasis Villa
New to the P&O Cruises fleet, the Oasis Villa is an exclusive area for guests to unwind. Facilities include a private whirlpool and a personal spa therapist for a treatment of their choice.

Blowout Menu

Following recent trends in the UK market, the Oasis Spa will feature a new 'blowout menu', perfect for black tie evenings. Guests can nip to the salon to be treated by "honchos of the hair dryer and masters of the make-up brush". The blowout menu will include a variety of treatments from a deep conditioning hair treatment to a full blown 'bombshell' makeover.

Wednesday, 27 August 2014

The end of last week saw Holland America Line celebrate the keel laying of its new Pinnacle Class ship. The 680-ton block which was cut earlier this year was lowered by crane into the yard's building dock, marking the official beginning of construction. The event was attended by Holland America Line's Keith Tayor, senior vice president, fleet operations and Cyril Tatar, vice president, newbuild and technical operations. "The keel laying of our new Pinnacle Class vessel heightens the anticipation for delivery because very soon we’ll see the ship begin to take shape,” said Stein Kruse, president and CEO of Holland America Line. “As the largest ship ever built for Holland America Line, the vessel features many innovations and new features, and we’re excited to see it all come together over the next year and a half.”The new ship is being built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Italy and is scheduled for delivery February 2016. At 99,500-gross-ton it is the largest ship ever built for Holland America Line and will hold 2,650 passengers. The ship will showcase decors by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany, based in New York City, and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten, based in Oslow, Norway.

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

When Royal Caribbean began their 99 day count down until their newest cruise ship, Quantum of the Seas, we knew they wouldn't disappoint! Yesterday, as part of the big countdown, Royal Caribbean announced the latest update on the ship during an online 'reveal' where Quantum of the Seas was labelled the first ever 'smartship'.

With the latest technological innovations it is easy to see why Quantum of the Seas will be the smartest ship in the world!

Smart Check-in"From sidewalk to ship in 10 minutes"For the first time ever Royal Caribbean will eliminate the counter check-in, forms and queues when you arrive at the cruise terminal! Passengers will now use an easy online check-in system to upload their own ID photo before they arrive at the cruise terminal and will receive a digital check-in confirmation.

PLUS with the latest RFID technology, passengers will be able to track their luggage in real time on their smartphones. Luggage will be tagged at drop-off and from their passengers can monitor the progress of their bags from through key points from drop-off to arrival at passengers' cabins.Smart Concierge"Flexibility at your fingertips"
Royal Caribbean are introducing new RFID WOWband wristbands, with just one simple tap passengers will navigate around the ship, make onboard purchases and access their cabin.

PLUS two brand new smartphone apps, Cruise Planner & Royal IQ.
Cruise Planner gives guests the ability to book shore excursions, spa appointments and dinner reservations through their smartphone or tablet even before their cruise begins.Royal IQ is a smartphone app which is used by guests during their cruise, it includes a quick view of the cruise programme and the ability to text and phone one another or even those at home.

Smart Connect"Speeds that match the fastest connections on shore"Quantum of the Seas will operate with more bandwidth than every cruise ship in the world combined! Passengers will be able to stream videos, check email, share images on social media and enjoy video calls, even in the middle of the ocean, no matter what device they bring onboard.PLUS such speedy connections will make it possible for SeaPlex to become a live global video gaming suite. Guests will enjoy Xbox Live with the ability to challenge other gamers worldwide!Smart Experiences"A fully robotic bar"Quantum of the Seas will include various brand new venues including, Bionic Bar, where passengers will place their order via tablets and have fun watching fully robotic bartenders prepare their cocktails.
Another spectacular new venue featuring robotic technology is Two70, home to six Roboscreens that participate and perform during evening shows.

Thursday, 21 August 2014

Azamara Sails Down UnderIn conjunction with their efforts to grow their global boundaries, Azamara Club Cruises is offering cruises in Australia and New Zealand from 2016.Viking Take to The OceanViking are preparing to launch their three ocean-going ships between now and 2016.The first is Viking Star launching in Norway in May 2015, followed by it's two sister ships Viking Sea and Viking Sky, which will launch the following year.Neil Barclay, head of sales explains that they plan to spend more time in destinations than their competitors and because of the size of the ships they will be able to dock at some of the smaller ports, 'getting more into the heart of the community'.SeaDream Yacht Club Considers BalconiesAlthough not in a hurry to do so, chief executive officer Atle Brynestad spoke about the possibility of balconies if they were to add a third ship to the fleet. He added that they do not need a new ship but he is working on the idea 'at all times' and it would most likely have balconies.Crystal Cruises Voted World's Best for 20 YearsVoted 'World's Best' for an unsurpassed 20 years by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and 19 consecutive years by the readers of Travel + Leisure, that's more times than any other Cruise Line, Hotel or Resort in history!

Crystal Adds Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi for all Crystal Society members starting this Autumn.

Each Crystal Society guest will receive 60 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi for every day of the cruise. For example, a 10 night cruise will offer 600 minutes free internet access per person, which can be used any time throughout your voyage!

P&O Cruises Aurora Multimillion Pound Make-over

At the end of November 2014, just in time for her Christmas and New Year cruise, Aurora will spend around 20 nights in dry dock in Hamburg. She will come out of the make-over as the first ship in the fleet to receive the new look livery design, newly refurbished & modernised dining facilities, children facilities, accommodation and so much more!

Tuesday, 19 August 2014

Escape to Miami & the Caribbean this winter for almost 3 weeks on-board 5* Modern Luxury ship Celebrity Eclipse, plus pre and post-cruise stays in no less than 4 star accommodation, all for just £99 per person per night!

Monday, 18 August 2014

Crystal Cruises are celebrating a quarter-century of Crystal luxury and excellence in 2015 and they are inviting you to join the fun!

Crystal has been voted the World's Best for 20 years, so why not join them and experience their award winning excellence for yourself?

In commemoration of Crystal's 25th Anniversary there will be opportunities to sail with their President, Edie Rodriguez and Chairman, Nobuyoshi Kuzuya as well as other familiar faces on their specially craftedPresident's, Chairman's and Captains' Cruises.

Voted World's Best for 20 Years

Voted 'World's Best' for an unsurpassed 20 years by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and 19 consecutive years by the readers of Travel + Leisure, that's more times than any other Cruise Line, Hotel or Resort in history!

There's plenty of reasons why Crystal continue to be the World's Best.... and every one of them is part of their all-inclusive experience!

Crystal Adds Free Wi-Fi
Crystal Cruises has announced free Wi-Fi for all Crystal Society members starting this Autumn.

Each Crystal Society guest will receive 60 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi for every day of the cruise. For example, a 10 night cruise will offer 600 minutes free internet access per person, which can be used any time throughout your voyage!
The Wi-Fi will be accessible via iPad, iPhone, laptop or in the Computer University@Sea.

Redefining The "Fine" in Fine Dining

Crystal have spent the past four-plus years developing an all-new nightly dinner experience! Now being served in the main Crystal Dining Rooms, their new innovative programme features more than 100 new dishes, all designed using the creativity of Crystal's highly-trained executive chefs, high-tech gallery equipment and doctrines of molecular gastronomy.

Friday, 8 August 2014

P&O Cruises Aurora due in for a multimillion pound make-over November 29 to December 18.

At the end of November 2014, just in time for her Christmas and New Year cruise, Aurora will spend around 20 nights in dry dock in Hamburg. She will come out of the make-over as the first ship in the fleet to receive the new look livery design, a contemporary version of the Union Flag to celebrate P&O Cruises heritage.

Dining On BoardFor those of you who enjoy the taste of Indian cuisine, you're in for a treat with the introduction of Sindhu restaurant, a fine dining restaurant with an Indian fusion menu designed by Michelin-star celebrity chef Atul Kochar. Sindhu will replace the library on deck 8, but don't fear the library is only relocating to the cyb@study on deck 13.

The buffet restaurant will undergo a complete refurbishment and in the evenings The Beach House menu will replace the Pennant Grill menu to include family favourites such as Fillet of Beef on Lava Rock.

Café Bordeaux will be replaced by The Glass House restaurant and wine bar, created in partnership with TVs specialist wine expert Olly Smith, which is currently proving popular on board Azura and Ventura. The Glass House is considered a stylish and informal haven, somewhere to relax and enjoy the marvellous selection of wines.

If you have experienced and enjoyed Freedom Dining on board a P&O Cruise, you'll be happy to hear that Freedom Dining is being introduced to the Medina Restaurant along with more tables of two.

The Sidewalk Café is undergoing a refurbishment with the introduction of Costa Coffee and a new "Grab and Go" counter - perfect for breakfast or lunch on the go!

Facilities On BoardOne for the children - A complete refurbishment of The Reef children's clubs will take place, with room name changes to reflect Reef Club names across the fleet.

Improvements will be made to the Casino & Champions sports bar, creating a much more open-plan design with new furniture and an enhanced stage area creating an enhanced environment for entertainment.

The photography gallery is upgrading to include more touch screen technology and for those who like a bit of retail therapy, there is going to be an extensive shop refurbishment.

Sound and light equipment will also undergo an upgrade to improve shows in both the theatre and show lounge. And for those of you who enjoy spending quality time relaxing, the Oasis spa is undergoing a complete renovation!

Accommodation On BoardLast but certainly not least, plans are afoot to fit all cabins with new soft furnishings and flat screen TVs ensuring they remain comfortable and stylish!

Thursday, 15 May 2014

New from The Cruise Village...Small Ship Cruise ExpertsCruising can be intimate. It can be personal. Cruising can take you off the beaten path and open a world of adventure and exploration. At least, it can when you choose a small ship cruise. From the freedom of a Turkish gulet to the heritage of tall ships and the splendour of mega yachts, experience more. Discover small ship cruising with Small Ship Cruise Experts.Take a look at our new website: http://www.smallshipcruiseexperts.co.uk

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The Cruise Village is Based in Blackpool and is one of the UK's premier award winning cruise holiday agents.

We are specialists in all types of cruise holidays from late cruise deals, luxury cruises, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises to river cruising and no flying cruises from Southampton with fantastic savings and benefits.

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